Spotify as a Social Media
October 10, 2023
Spotify is widely recognized as a music streaming service, but have you ever considered it a form of social media? Essentially, Spotify fits the definition of social media by facilitating the creation, sharing, and exploration of information centred around music.
Features That Define Spotify as a Social Media Platform
Similar to traditional social media platforms, Spotify requires users to have personal accounts, whether free or paid. Users can set profile pictures, follow friends, family, and artists, and explore their activities.
In comparison to platforms like Instagram, where users can view their friends’ activities and stories, Spotify allows users to see what music their friends are enjoying, explore their playlists, and discover music shared by their favourite artists.
The Social Connection
A key social aspect of Spotify is its ability to connect users with artists and bands. Artists can build relationships with their listeners by sharing their music, updates, and behind-the-scenes content. For listeners, Spotify offers collaborative playlists, enabling shared music experiences where users can create playlists together.
Spotify’s “Blend” feature takes collaboration further by blending the musical tastes of two users into a shared playlist that updates daily based on their listening habits. According to Rosie Maharjan, an Associate Designer at Spotify, Blend serves as a thoughtful way to connect with others through music.
Personalisation Mastery
Personalisation is central to Spotify’s appeal. Features like “Discover Weekly” create custom playlists based on users’ listening habits, introducing them to new artists and genres. Spotify Wrapped, a yearly review of users’ listening habits, not only showcases their top songs and genres but also sparks emotional connections by allowing users to reminisce about their musical journey throughout the year.
Wrapped’s success lies in its shareability, as users can easily post their summaries on other social platforms, turning it into a viral marketing tool. This feature has significantly increased engagement and user retention on the platform.
Social Platform or Music Streaming Service?
While Spotify remains foremost a music streaming service, its social features foster a vibrant community and sustained user engagement. Unlike other platforms where music is a secondary feature, Spotify keeps music at its core while enhancing social interaction among its users.
